The IgA immune system in epileptics on anticonvulsant therapy

Abstract

Disturbances in IgA have often been reported in white epileptics on anticonvulsant therapy. The clinical significance of these disorders is of interest as this aspect does not appear to have been sufficiently explored. In a previous study neither African nor Caucasian epileptics on treatment showed a deficiency of serum IgA. Since secretory IgA is the main defence factor in protecting mucosal surfaces, the object of the present study was simultaneously to determine serum and salivary IgA in suitable subjects and to monitor related clinical events. A similar elevation of salivary IgA level was found in Black and White epileptics on treatment. Clinical events were rare and were not related either to serum or secretory IgA concentrations. It is concluded that at present epileptics do not seem to require special immunological or clinical monitoring.